Driving mechanism.



J. R. GAMMETER DRIVING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, 1911.

Patented 0011.2 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED D120. 22, 1911.

Patented 0ct.21,1913.

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J. R. GAMMETBR.

DRIVING MECHANISM. 7 APPLICATION FILED DEO. 22, 1911. I

Patented 0011.21, 1913.

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Jenn R. camnnrnn, or Anson, OHIO DRIVING Mnonsmsn.

Specification of.- Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 211, i933.

, Application filed member 22, 1911. Serial No. 667,205.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. GAMMETER, a

' citizen of the United States, residing in the dependent upon a forward movement of the machine, and ifthe power urging the machine forward fails, it will fall back to the earth, or, under favorable conditions, may

be caused to glide back more or less gently by a skilful operator. For driving the aeroplane forward, one or more propellers have heretofore been used, driven by an engine of the internal combustion type. While engines of this type have been developed to such a point that they are remarkably reliable in operatiomit is nevertheless true that with an engine delicately constructed, as an aeroplane motor must be,

accidents willsometimes, and frequently do, occur which cause the motor unexpectedly to cease its operation; Such unexpected stoppage of the engine is the most dangerous contingency with which aviators have to contend, and more than any other cause has been the occasion of those accidents which have rendered aviation the most hazardous of all pursuits.

My present invention relates to improved means for driving aeroplanes and the like, whereby a plurality of motors may be used, which under normal conditions unite in driving the propeller or propellers, but so arranged that if either of the motors fails in its operation, the other will continue to drive the aeroplane forward, and thus prevent an accident. The probability of both motors simultaneously ceasing to operate is so remote that the danger of the aviator being left without power is practically eliminated. I accomplish this result by connecting the motors by means of a differential, from the floating or driven member of which I derive the power for rotating the propeller or propellers of the aeroplane. means, under normal conditions, the propeller or propellers receive the power of By this I both motors, being driven at a speed proportionalto the mean speed of the motors, the rotation of the propellers being automath cally accomplished by either of the motors singly in case the other motoror motors cease tooperate,

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation of a pair of motors connected by means of a diiferential in accordance with my invention, the differential being shown in section, and'illnstrating one embodiment of my improved power unit. The motors shown in this figure are of the rotary or Gnome type, in which the cylinders and frame of the engine rotate about a fixed crank; Fig. 2 is a section upon line H-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line HIHT of Fig, 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modification of my device showing diagrammatically portions of two multiple-cylinder non? rotary motors of standard type, the differential being shown in section; Fig. 5 is'a J diagrammatic plan view of an aeroplane provided with one form' of my improved .power unit, the upper main plane being removed and portions of the lower plane being broken away; Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through the aeroplane shown in Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, the form of my improved power unit shown in these figures comprises a pair of rotary motors 1 and 2 constructed to rotate in the same direction. The frames of each of these motors has projecting from it a sleeve 3 which terminates in a flange 4:. To each of the flanges 4 is secured a plate 5 provided with a central boss 6, in which is secured a stub shaft 7. Mounted upon suitable bushings 8 carried by these stub shafts is the casing 9 of a differential. The endsof the stub shafts 7 project intothis casing and each of them has keyed thereto a beveled gear 10,

Mounted upon bushings 11 carried by the hubs of these beveled gears 10 is a spider '12 having one or more arms, preferably four, from the ends of which project journals 13, upon which are mounted beveled pinions 14 meshing with the beveled gears -10. The journals 13 terminate in pins 15 5 which are received within sockets 16 projecting from the inside "of the casing ,9.: I The outside of the'casing has. formed upon has it one or more sprockets 17, from which 3 chains 18 and 19 lead to sprockets on the shafts of the propeller or propellers.

In-Figs. 5 and 6, my power unit is shown as mounted upon the frame 20 of an aeroplane, the latter being provided with two propellers 21 and 22 driven in opposite d1- rections, as in the Wright machine. propellers are mounted upon shafts 23 on the inner ends of which are sprockets, one ofwhich is driven by the open chain 18, while the other is driven by the crossed chain 19.

It is to be understood, of course, that my invention-is not limited for use with aeroplanes provided with two propellers, as the differential may obviously be connected in a suitable manner to drive a single propeller in aeroplanes of the'type using but one propeller.

It will be understood that in the normal operation of my device both motors are operated in the same direction and at as near a uniform speed as is practicable. For this purpose they may advantageously be arranged with a common control for the earbureter and the ignition systems of each, although this is not necessary. The speed of the differential casing and of the propeller or propellers will be the mean of the speeds of the two motors, in any case. If, however, one of the motors should cease to operate, there would be a tendency for the second motor to drive it backward through the differential. In order to secure the efi'ective operation of one motor without the other, it is therefore necessary to provide means to check this tendency and prevent backward operation of the dead motor. I have provided means for this purpose which form an important part of my invention.

' As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, each of the motors is provided with a ratchet or clutch device 24 for preventing backward rotation. This clutch device may be of any suitable form, but I prefer to construct the same as follows: To the flange 4 and plate 5 of each motor I secure a ring 25 having a flange 26 engaging the side of the plate 5, a flange 27 seating upon the edges of flange 4 and plate 5 and an outwardly extending flange 28. Mounted upon the outer surface of the -flange 27 and .firmly secured against rotattion thereon is a ring 29, preferably of hardened steel, this ring being provided the annular member 35 andits facing ring 36, these means preferably consisting of an .arm 37 projecting from the annular member and engaged uponeach side by stops carried by a fixed part of the aeroplane frame. These stops are preferably of the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and comprise supports 38 carrying plungers 39 which engage the sides of the arm 37. ,The stems 40' of the plungers 39 slide through holes formed in the supports 38, the plungers being held in operative position by means of stiff springs 41. In operation it will be seen that when the motors are bot-h revolving forward, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the clutch rollers 33 will be carried around by the abutments 31 and will slide orroll freely within the ring 36. Upon one of the motorsstopping, however, the other continuing in operation, there will be a tendency for the motor which has stopped to be driven backward through the differential. The first backward movement will, hqwever, cause the rollers 33 to ride up the inclined seats 30 on the ring 29, causing-the rollers to jam against the inner surface of the ring 36. The ring 36 being held against rotation, however, the backward movement of the motor will beimmediately checked. The use of the spring stops for the annular member 35 permits the latter to yield slightly and prevents injury from the shock which would otherwise occur upon the such den stoppage of the motor.

In order to facilitate the simultaneous starting of the two motors, I preferably provide means for lockingthe differential so that the two motors will be obliged to rot-ate in unison during the cranking. A suit-able device for accomplishing this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 1.. As shown in that figure, I provide one or more of the pinions 14 with lugs 42 which are adapted to be engaged by locking pins 43 passing through openings formed in the side of the difierential casing 9. The pins 43 are carried on a spider-44, the hub of which, 45, is slidably mounted upon a sleeve 46 forming a part of the differential casing 9. The movement of the spider 44 and pins 43 is limited by means of a pin 47 fixed in the side-of the differential casing, passing through a hole in one of the arms of the spider and provided with, an enlarged head 48. The movement of the spider is controlled by means of a knurled nut 49 screwed upon the threaded end of the sleeve 46 and provided with a neck 50 carry- 1 1g a flange'5l received within a groove in the hub of the spider.

In the operation of this device, when the engines are to be cranked up, thenut 49 1s operated to move. the spider toward the side of the differential casing, thus bringing the pins--43 into engagement with the lugs 42.

This device isshown with the arts in this position in Fig. 4. The motors are thus locked together through the diflerential and are obliged to rotate inunison. The motors are then cranked, preferably by rotating one withdraw the spider. The two motors will now be connected onlythrough the difler: ential, the casing of which will be driven at a speed equal to the mean speed of the motors. 'If either of the motors ceases to operate, it will beprevented from backward revolution by means of its clutch device and the difierential casing will be driven at onehalf the speed of the motor remaining in operation, the propeller or propellers being driven at a correspondingly reduced speed. The motors, however, are each of a power adequate to drive the propellers at'a sufficient speed to keep the aeroplane in the air and under control, and the aviator may either continue on 'his journey with one motor or seek a suitable spot at which to land .and repair his second motor.

In F ig/t I have shown a modification of my invention in which I use a pair of motors 52 of any usual form of non-rotary type, one of the stationary cylinders of each of the motors being shown at 53, the remaining cylinders of the motors being broken away. The main shafts 54 of the motors each carry one of the beveled gears 10 of the differential, which is shown in this figure as of the same construction as that shown in Fig. 1 and previously described indetail. Each ofthe main shafts 54 also carries a clutch disk55, the periphery of which is provided with inclined seats and abutments of the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Surrounding these disks are the annular channeled members 56 which carry the clutch rollers 33, holding the latter in engagement with the seats and abutments formed on the disks 55. The annular chan nels 56 correspond in operation with the annular members 35 previously described, and are provided with suitable means, preferably such as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, for preventing their rotation. The operation of the form of my device shown in Fig. 4 is exactly the-same as that of the form of my invention shown in the other figures of the drawings and already fully.

described. 7

It is to be understood that I have shown and described in detail, and by way of illustration of the principle of my invention, merely apreferred embodiment thereof. I do not intend to limit myself to this specific embodiment, but desire to cover broadly the principle of my invention, consisting in the use of a plurality of motors connected by means of a differential or its equivalent, so that the motors may operate together to drive the aeroplane, or sothat either motor alone will act to drive the aeroplane in case the other motor ceases to operate. Moreover, while my invention is particularly applicable. w the propulsion of aeroplanes, I do not desire to limit myself to its use solely for that purpose, as it may be found advantageous for many other purposes; for example, for the driving of diri-gible balloons, automobiles,

motor boats, and, in general, wherever else uninterrupted application of power is desirable.

Having thus described my invention, I, claim: 1. In a power unit for aeroplanes and the like, a pair of motors adapted to rotate in the same direction, a differential gearing and lts casing, means to cause said motors to rotate in unison comprising. a lug on a gear of said diiferential gearing, and a pin passing through an aperture in the casing'of said differential gearing and adapted to' be moved 'into and out of engagement with said lug, and means for preventing the backward rotation of either of said motors comprising rollerclutches interposed between each of said motors and said differential casing.

2. In a power unit for aeroplanes and the like, a pair of motors adapted torotate in member, and clutching means operated by movement of said second member.

3. In a power unit for aeroplanes and the like, a pair of motors adapted to rotate in the same direction, a beveled gear driven by each of said motors, a differential casing, a beveled pinion carried by said casing and meshing with said beveled gears, powertransmission means carried by said casing,

means for preventing the backward rotation of eitherof said motors, and means to lock said beveled pinion against rotation to cause said motorsto rotate in unison, said means comprising a lug on the pinion, a pin passing through an aperture in the side of the differential casing and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said lug, said pin being carried by a member slidably mounted upon a sleeve projecting from the side of said differential casing,-and a nut screwing on a portion of said sleeve and engaging said member.

4. In a power-unit for aeroplanes and the like, a pair of motors adapted to rotate in the same direction, a gear driven by each of said motors, a differential casing, means carried by said casing meshing with said gears, power-transmission means carried by said casing, means for preyenting the backward rotation of either of said motors, said means comprising a disk rotatable with each of said motors, a stationary member mounted adjacent to said disks, clutch means mounted between said rotatable disk and stationary member and acting to prevent the rotation of said disk exceptin one direction, the means for retaining said stationary member stationary comprisin an arm projecting from said member and spring-pressed abutments engaging the sides of said arm.

5. In a power unit for aeroplanes and the like, apair of motors adapted to rotate in the same direction, differential gearing connecting said motors, and means to cause said motors to rotate in unison comprising a lug on a gear of said difierent-ial gearing, and a pin passing through an aperture in the casing of said differential and adapted to be moved into and out ofengagement with said lug.

JOHN R. GAMMETER. Witnesses: p

J. S. SMrm-r,

JAs. PEACH. 

